1. Create the server
- In Discord, click the + (Add a Server) button at the bottom of the server list.
- Choose Create My Own, then For a club or community.
- Name it so people searching for GTA find it — for example "GTA LFG" plus your region or language — and upload an icon.
- Open Server Settings → Enable Community. This unlocks Onboarding, a rules screen and announcement channels, which the next steps use.
2. Set up GTA channels
Create a category for each group below. Voice channels get a user limit that matches a real GTA party size, so lobbies don't overfill.
Start Here
| #rules | Rules and post format: Online or RP, platform, activity. |
| #announcements | Server news and crew events. |
LFG
| #heist-crews | GTA Online heists and setup missions. |
| #online-freeroam | Business runs, races and other Online activities. |
| #rp-groups | Finding a group to join an RP server with. |
Voice
| Heist Crew | Four-player heist crew. User limit: 4 |
| Big Crew | Six-player crew. User limit: 6 |
3. Create rank and role roles
GTA matchmaking isn't rank-based, so skip rank roles and use roles that help people find the right group instead.
Use roles for GTA Online versus GTA RP, plus platform roles, since crews can only play together on the same platform.
Let members pick their own roles in Server Settings → Onboarding: add one question per role group so new members choose when they join. Onboarding needs at least 7 default channels, 5 of which @everyone can post in — the layout above covers that once you add a general chat channel or two.
4. Permissions and moderation
- Make #rules and #announcements read-only for
@everyone(deny Send Messages). - Turn on slowmode (30–60 seconds) in LFG channels so posts don't get buried.
- Open Server Settings → Safety Setup: set the verification level to at least Medium, and under AutoMod block spam, mention spam and harmful links.
- Create a Moderator role with Manage Messages and Timeout Members, and give it to a few trusted regulars.
Mod menus and money-drop offers are the common problem in GTA communities. Ban advertising them, block related phrases with AutoMod, and keep griefing stories out of LFG channels.
5. Add Matchmaker so your server isn't empty
The hardest part of a new LFG server is that nobody is online to play with yet. Matchmaker fixes that: it connects your server to one shared queue with GTA players from every other server using the bot.
- Add Matchmaker to your server — it's free.
- Members run
/joingameand pick Grand Theft Auto, a mode. Supported modes: GTA Online, GTA RP. - When a match forms, every player gets a ready-check DM to accept or decline.
- Once everyone accepts, a private voice channel is created automatically for the lobby.
6. Grow your GTA server
- Add platform roles first — they decide who can play together.
- Run a weekly heist night with a set start time.
- Keep an RP server list pinned and up to date.
- Let regular crews claim a private voice channel.
FAQ
Should a GTA Discord separate GTA Online and GTA RP?
Yes. They're different communities with different expectations, so separate channels and roles keep both happy.
Can Matchmaker build GTA Online heist crews?
Yes. GTA Online and GTA RP are both supported, matched by group size from 2 to 6.
Do GTA LFG servers need rank roles?
No — GTA isn't ranked. Platform and activity roles are what help crews form.
How do I handle mod menu spam in a GTA Discord?
Ban advertising mod menus and money drops in the rules, and add AutoMod keyword filters for them.